Jonny Bairstow has created some “amazing memories” down the years at Scarborough – and he has just added another one to the list having helped Yorkshire boost their promotion bid with victory over Division Two leaders Sussex.
England star Bairstow returned to county colours last week for the first time this season, scoring a first-innings 57 in the four-wicket victory. He also took four catches behind the stumps in the second innings.
Bairstow, 34, last played at Scarborough in 2015, a venue which was his late father David’s favourite.
“Dad’s ashes are here, and I think that says it all as to what Scarborough means,” said Jonny, when reflecting on his latest trip to North Marine Road.
“It’s obviously an amazing ground for me. I’ve got a lot of family history that’s here. Some amazing memories. It’s a special place in my heart and a special place in a lot of the players’ hearts. We love coming to Scarborough.
“There’s been a lot of good times spent up here at Scarborough.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jonny Bairstow celebrates his half-century against Sussex.
“For me to play here and be part of a winning side again in what has been a good season, it’s huge. Hopefully we can finish it off with promotion.”
Confidence is certainly high within the Yorkshire camp that promotion can be achieved. No wonder, they’ve won three matches on the bounce, two by an innings and the other against pacesetters Sussex.
“The bowling effort from the guys – to restrict Sussex to going at under three an over throughout the game at Scarborough is, we know, one hell of an effort,” continued Bairstow.
“It’s a quick outfield and good pitch. Toiling with the wind, which was there and a constant throughout the three-and-a-bit-days.
“But I think just a general cohesiveness from the team was something that shone.
“I asked for people to stand up at the start of the week because it’s such a special place. People remember the games here at Scarborough.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Sussex’s Ollie Robinson appeals for the wicket of Jonny Bairstow last week.
“For Coady to get the five-for in that second innings was a huge effort from him.”
Bairstow certainly likes what he sees from his Yorkshire team-mates and is more than happy to lend a helping hand to the development of the county’s talented crop of youngsters.
He said: “Over the last couple of years, there’s been a lot of young lads play, and we’re now starting to see them come through and have a bit more experience.
“We saw Will Luxton getting his maiden fifty (against Sussex), and I’ve got no doubts he will go on and get a hundred very soon because the temperament he’s got and the way he went about it was great.
“You look at which the way people are coming together and uniting – you look at people like George Hill and Matt Revis, who bowled exceptionally well, I’ve mentioned Will Luxton, and there’s Finlay Bean at the top of the order.
“Throughout the last couple of seasons, he’s done really well.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jonny Bairstow signs an autograph for a young fan at North Marine Road.
“For me, it’s just being around and enjoying my cricket.
“I’ll have a bit of craic with the lads, and if there’s any questions they want to ask, then the experience is there and you’re able to share that knowledge.”
And the 100-Test star added of Middlesex this week: “The mindset will be exactly the same. We regroup and go again.
“Nothing changes (from Sussex). We knew it was going to be a huge game, and we turned up. Now it’s about backing up those performances.
“We go to Headingley, and it will be a slightly different challenge with the Kookaburra ball.
“We’ve got to find a way to win.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jonny Bairstow is backing Will Luxton to post his maiden first-class century sooner rather than later.
